Within seconds of arriving to meet Jack Nelligan, one of the owners of Bloom Restaurant in Thebarton, he is offering coffees, beers, a comfortable place to sit, and full access to his restaurant.
The reception is warm and welcoming, as you would expect from the top-rated restaurant in the area (according to TripAdvisor), and genuinely neighbourly.
Over the next few years, Bloom will be the closest neighbour to a couple of thousand new residents moving into Southwark Grounds and Mr Nelligan is keen for his business to be a part of it.
“Is it possible for our restaurant to be included in the Southwark name change?” he asks, referring to plans, since approved, to rename that part of the suburb from Thebarton to Southwark.
It’s later afternoon and one would think he would be eager to leave, since Bloom opened at 7:30am, but Mr Nelligan is keen to share his thoughts on Southwark Grounds.
“The idea of a big residential project happening on our doorstep is really, really exciting,” Mr Nelligan says.
Mr Nelligan, one of three partners, is a popular face for Bloom’s regular clientele and an advocate for the evolving area.
While talking, he will stop to welcome guests, swoon over dogs joining their humans for coffee and thank his team members who are knocking off for the day.
Bloom opened its doors in late 2019. The venue was born from a dressed-up old barn at 38 Winwood Street and is the second hospitality spot for the team, which owns Peter Rabbit on the western end of Hindley Street.
The venue quickly earned local support and grew a wider market by becoming a popular choice for weddings and events at night.
Bloom emerged in the heart of an old industrial precinct, situated between old warehouses and factories, right behind the West End Brewery at the time of opening.
Mr Nelligan says the brewery’s closure in 2021 was disappointing, resulting in a loss of history in the area, but he remains optimistic about the site’s future.
“It’s a really exciting time and we’re proud to be a part of it,” he says.
It’s likely a range of hospitality venues will pop up throughout the new neighbourhood, introducing competition for Bloom that would not have existed otherwise.
Mr Nelligan is not concerned. He is excited.
“We want other hospitality venues coming into the area and helping create that Southwark identity,” he says.
Construction on the first homes in Southwark Grounds will start in late 2025, with the first residents expected to move in towards the end of 2026.
A total of 1,300 homes will be progressively delivered over 10 years, a mix of townhouses and apartments, scattered throughout the massive 8.4-hectare site.
As Southwark Grounds develops, Mr Nelligan hopes to grow his business alongside it.
“I think there are some really big opportunities for us to grow over the next five years,” he says.
“The opportunity to diversify to different areas as well is really, really exciting for us.”
Asked if Bloom would consider stocking Southwark beer once the suburb started to take off, he admits he has not tried it for a long time.
“We used to support West End on tap when the West End brewery was here.
“My parents and grandparents talk about it [Southwark Bitter] being the green death.
“Honestly, I haven’t tried it for a long time. I’d definitely consider stocking Southwark and hopefully pouring Southwark on tap.
“I think it’s a really cool piece of history I’d like to be involved in.”
